The technology behind the car GPS is both impressive and relatively simple to understand
. Understanding how your car GPS works might help you to understand a little bit about how you better use your GPS. I know, this sounds like a line, but keep reading and at the very least you'll be able to sound like a smarty pants to your friends and really smart to your kids.
How a GPS finds out where it's at is an interesting process. A car GPS has to triangulate its location through the use of satellites. A GPS will send a signal or packet to several satellites in range. The satellite will return the favor. The round trip time for the packet from the GPS helps it to determine the distance from that particular satellite. Doing the same with several satellites at once helps the GPS determine its location.
The map on a GPS is laid out in longitude and latitude. Once the GPS has determined its own location it will display this on the map for the user to see. Sending multiple signals helps keep the GPS updated second to second. This is important when you consider that if the GPS did this every few seconds you'd most likely miss your turn.
While not as common anymore, there have been some accidents related to usage of a car GPS. Nearly all of these have had to do with not updating the maps. Not updating your maps will cause all kinds of issues. Your GPS knows where the construction was as of the last time it was updated. In some cases that could have been months ago.
Updating your maps will keep them fresh and your GPS will have a better idea as to what the best route will be. Not updating them will leave you in a cornfield or worse on the wrong side of a washed out bridge. Updating with most new units is as simple as plugging your GPS into your PC's USB port. Everything else should be as simple as a few prompts.
Downloading some novelty voices is also a very cool thing to do. You can find free voices and premium voices with most services. These can be well known celebrity voices ("Turna Right HERA! JA!") or just the latest greatest sexy robot voice. The choices are pretty varied.
Alerts can be set on your car GPS that will inform you as to when you are getting close to restaurants, rest stops, school zones and even bars. We do not recommend you use your GPS to gain an advantage on the next Pub Crawl, however it is good to be able to find a bathroom quick. Some GPS unit will also help you monitor gas consumption and that means peace of mind.
No matter what you do it's always good to have a back-up plan in life. Having a road atlas is always a good thing. If you ever find your GPS has led you astray you'll be glad to have some sort of guide out. Generally, the longitude and latitude on the GPS will still be good even if the GPS map or address is wrong. This should give you some point of reference on a good atlas. That's all we have this time around. Stay strong and keep between the ditches!